Fuqua named director of Honors Program at BHSU

Dr. Amy Fuqua, associate humanities professor who has been serving as interim director of the Honors Program, has been named director of the Honors Program at Black Hills State University.

Dr. Dean Myers, vice president for academic affairs, praised Fuqua’s work with the Honors Program and says that BHSU is fortunate to have her as the director.

“Dr. Fuqua will be an exceptional leader for the Honors Program,” Myers says. “Her background, enthusiasm, and leadership will create many opportunities for our Honors students. We are fortunate to have someone of her high caliber leading this program.”

Fuqua has set high goals for the program and expects to see many new developments.

“Honors students at BHSU have the opportunity to be a part of a dynamic community of scholars who work hard, serve their community, and make the most out of their college years,” says Fuqua.

Fuqua says that the Honors Program emphasizes the areas in which BHSU excels by providing students the opportunity to work with directly with faculty members to do research projects.

“They work individually with faculty members whose research interests match their own.” Fuqua says. “We encourage Honors students to create innovative projects in their field of interest.”

She is working on initiatives to encourage students to develop community projects and increase the number of students who pursue opportunities to study abroad.

Fuqua has served on the Honors Advisory Council since 2005 and has taught Honors courses in composition and literature. Fuqua is co-director of the Stewart Bellman Awards for Undergraduate Writing and also is faculty advisor for the English Club. She teaches survey and seminar courses in American literature and courses in composition as well as a women in literature course.

Fuqua has a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina (1996), an M.A. from James Madison University (1991), and a B.S. from Vanderbilt University (1989).

The Honors Program was established at BHSU in 2003. This semester four students completed their senior theses and will graduate this spring. The program currently has approximately 90 students enrolled.

Honors students take general education courses designed specifically for the Honors Program. They also complete Honors colloquia, topical courses designed by teams of professors in various disciplines for their capstone experience. Each student completes an Honors Thesis under the guidance of a professor in the student's own area of academic interest. The program has a director and an Honors Advisory Council made up of faculty members and two student representatives. There is also a very active Honors student organization that is dedicated to service and volunteerism.

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